August 17, 2009 (San Diego's East County) -- At 2:41 pm firefighters from CAL FIRE responded to a vegetation fire located at Old Highway 80 and Live Oak Springs. In an attempt to rapidly extinguish these flames, firefighters utilized a joint effort with allied agencies to battle the blaze.

2 CONFLICTING RECOMMENDATIONS MADE TO CPUC 

 by Miriam Raftery

August 10, 2009 (Campo) - If you see smoke over East County, don't panic.  A large fire is burning in Mexico, just south of Campo. However it poses no threat to Americans on this side of the border since the wind is blowing in the opposite direction, CAL-FIRE Battalion Chief Nick Schuler assures us.

August 6, 2009 (San Diego’s East County)1:45 p.m. – Two brush fires in Lakeside and Poway have been quickly contained.

By Miriam Raftery

July 24, 2009 (San Diego’s East County)—The San Diego City Council will consider Monday whether to take a stand for or against SDG&E's controverisal proposed plan to shut off power to rural residents during high fire-risk conditions.  The plan is supported by at least two Councilmembers. 

July 12, 2009 (Santee) – A small brush fire that started around 4 p.m. this afternoon at 9255 Magnolia, near the Las Colinas Women’s facility in Santee, has been extinguished. The blaze burned less than three acres. No structures were damaged. Sheriff’s deputies alerted mobile home park residents in the vicinity of the fire, but no evacuations were ordered.

One mobile home park resident was transported to a hospital during the fire, however a dispatcher said she could not confirm whether the individual was injured from the fire or had an unrelated medical issue.

July 4, 2009 (El Caj on)--At 11:05 a.m. this morning, El Cajon Fire crews were dispatched to a report of a brush fire near 1103 Gorsline Dr. in El Cajon. When firefighters arrived on scene, they encountered a 3/4-acre brush fire burning uphill threatening residential structures. Approximately ten firefighters on three engines and a Battalion Chief were able to contain the blaze in approximately 30 minutes, but remained on scene for over an hour and a half putting out hot spots.

The County of San Diego Board of Supervisors will take up San Diego Gas & Electric Company's ill-conceived electricity shut off plan at next Tuesday's board meeting, June 23rd, which starts at 9 a.m. at the County Administration Building, 1600 Pacific Highway, Third Floor, San Diego. The discussion will center on both the issue of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) sought by SDG&E with San Diego County and the need for the County to formally oppose the shut off plan and communicate their opposition to the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC).

June 3, 2009 (San Diego’s East County)4 p.m. – Lightning started several small fires this afternoon in San Diego's eastern region, including multiple blazes in the Deer Springs area, all extinguished at less than an acre apiece. “A couple of them actually hit power lines,” said Captain Nick Schuler of CAL-FIRE. Another lightning-sparked fire also burned approximately one acre in the 2000 block of Willow Glen Road in Fallbrook. In addition, the cause of a small fire in Ramona this afternoon remains under investigation.

May 26, 2009 (San Diego's East County)--Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner announced support of AB 157, authored by Assemblyman Joel Anderson (R-El Cajon). Poizner also offered disaster preparation tips for all San Diego residents, including advice for preparing a home inventory for insurance purposes.

May 27, 2009 (6:55 a.m.)--A five-acre fire is burning in Laguna Meadows, one mile west of the Laguna Campground on Mount Laguna. No structures are threatened and all roads remain open. “It’s in a fairly inaccessible area, so our engine crews have hiked in. We have two hotshot crews as well, and a potential to have some air tankers on it soon,” said Brian Harris, Cleveland National Forest spokesman for the U.S. Forest Service.

Farmers Insurance Funds "Before the Threat" 2009 Door-To-Door Preparedness Campaign Across San Diego County

UPDATE MAY 25: The Pala fire is now 60% contained and the acreage number has not increased overnight, Cal Fire Captain Nick Schuler reports this morning.

May 24, 2009 (Pala) -- A fire burning along Highway 76 near Pala has reached 122 acres and burned three homes. New evacuations have been ordered this evening on Palomar Del Norte Road, following earlier evacuation at Pala Norte Road. The fire is now 15% contained, with full containment predicted by 10 a.m. tomorrow, according to Cal-Fire Captain Nick Schuler.

May 15, 2009 (9:15 a.m.)-- If you see smoke today, don't panic. A controlled burn is slated to begin at 10:30 a.m. today along the eastern side of Miramar Marine Corps Air Station. Smoke may be visible along I-15 and Highway 52 from the burn, which is part of the base's annual effort to remove dry vegetation.

By Miriam Raftery

April 23, 2009 (Viejas Indian Reservation)—Preparing for fire season, fire
engine crews from more than 60 fire protection agencies donned full safety
gear and participated in structure protection drills, wildland hose lays, pumping
evolutions and other exercises. Aerial resources, including helicopters, practiced
coordinated fire attacks with ground crews under simulated fire conditions.
The eighth annual event was hosted this year at the Viejas Indian Reservation
east of Alpine on April 18, 21, 22 and 23.